Honors Students Share Projects Showcasing Research Skills that Provide Edge in Workforce

With research projects on gender expectations, espionage and food reform, three Lone Star College-CyFair students put their research skills on display at an intercollegiate conference.

Joshua Casillas, Brittany White and Tiffany Estes joined students from Alvin Community College, Brazosport College, Lee College, San Jacinto College and the Lone Star College System at the recent Gulf Coast Intercollegiate Consortium (GCIC) Honors Conference held on the LSC-North Harris campus.

Dr. Jennifer Goode, a Texas community college graduate who currently serves as a policy analyst with the U.S. Census Bureau in Washington, D.C., was the conference keynote speaker.

LSC-CyFair Honors College Director Esther Robinsons said Dr. Goode’s presentation emphasized the value of research in the development of critical thinking, which she labeled “reflective skepticism.” In addition, she emphasized that not only is the development of research skills transferable, but that they provide students with a competitive advantage upon entering the workforce.

Following the luncheon keynote presentation, students presented their individual Spring 2014 Honors Day research projects for peers and instructors.

Casillas and Estes, HIST 1302 students of Dr. Robert Holmes, respectively presented “American Gender Expectations in 1950’s Advertisements” and “The Jungle: A Study of the Progressive Era in Food Reform.” White, an ENGL 2332 student of Professor Britney Jeffrey presented her research “Women: Espionage’s Greatest Weapon.”

Those interested in seeing the talents of LSC-CyFair Honors College students in action can attend the Fall 2014 Honors Day Conference set Dec. 5 in the Center for the Arts building, located at 9191 Barker Cypress.

Students will present their Fall 2014 research projects starting at 1 p.m. in Rooms 203-215. Among the project topics are “Women in the United States Government and How Women in the United States Are Currently Governed”, “Student-to-Student Mentor Program: the Good, the Bad, and the Troubles that Arise from Understanding Composition and Rhetoric” and “Decrease of Biological Diversity as Evidence for the Earth’s Sixth Mass Extinction.”